Engine and the transmission of power therefrom



Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,292

v E. .v SPERRY ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION 0F POWER THEREFROM v FiledDec.'17, 1919 5 sheets-sheet l INVENTOR y ZMf/P H. SP5/:R Y.

Y Jlf HIS ATTORNE Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,292

E. A.` sPERRY ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER THEREFROM Filed Dec.17, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR y Mj W HIS ATTORNEYv Jan. 1,` 1929. Al 1,697,292

E. A. SPERRY ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER THEREFROM FiledDec.17, 1919 3 sheets-sheet 5 7J I 7A l ,ai 5 I Il' El El D El Wjj nm55-4" 34@ li" rNvENToR D D 1 fmm/Pm/IY.'

HIS ATTORNE Patented J;\n ..1,1e29

UNITED STATES Ermita A. srnany, or

A Y1,697,292 PATENT orifice...

BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK.

nNGINE AND THE T RA'NsMissIoN or Bowan rnnnnrnon.

Application led December This invention relates `toiinprovements in;

engines or other sources of power' and the transmission of powertherefrom. As is well known, the crank tshaft of every internal 6'combustion engine has Aa natural period of 'torsional vibration, whichisreached when saidl shaft of the engine attains a certain speed ofrotation, hereinafter lreferred to as the critical speed. Particlarly inthe case of internal combustion engines -of .ten or twelve cylinders,such asfare used in propelling certain types of ships-and submarines,when this natural period is attained the entire structure onwhich theengine is mounted may be severely racked and shaken; Accordingly l havedevised means for minimizing the vibrations of the engine. A furtherobject of the invention is the provision of an improved, non-frictioncoupling in connection with such means. Another ohjectof-my invention isto provide an improved connection or clutching means between a drivingmember and a driven member which are not in exact alignment, whereby onemember may be .driven from the otherand at the same time slight playbetween the two permitted.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have shown what I nowfconsider tobe the preferred forms of my invention:

Fig. l is a diagram for illustrating the 'application of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a planviewshowing the features of my invention in connectionwith an engine, a motor, anda propeller shaft of a submarine or othercraft.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view ofl means for changing themoment of inertia of the crank shaft of the engine. Q

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of .parts 40 shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of one form of meansfor controlling themeans shown-in Fig. 3 inaccordance with the engine speed. Y

' Fig. 6 is a view'of a modification of the means shown in 5.

Fig. 7 is a view, partly 1n longitudinal seotion, showing clutchingmeans permitting relative play between alpair of shafts.

Fig. '8 isa view of a modification.

Fig.` 9 is a longitudinal sectional lview of theupper half of analternative clutching arl rangement.

Fig.` 10 is a plan viewof parts shown in "Fig.9. x..

Fig. l11 is a view of a detail.

i7. 191e. serial No. 345,669.

illustrating the operation of the clutching arrangement of Fig. 9. InFig. l let ktime be measured along line i B, and speeds of rotationofthe crank shaft 00 m revolutions per minute along line B C. |Then line AC represents the normal variation of speed of the-crank shaft inaccordance vwith time as the engine is started untila Cei tain speed isattained. `As the critical speed, sa'y 160 revolutions per minute, isapproached, the natural period of torsional vibration. of the crankshaft is reached vand consequently rapid and violent torsional vifbrations f said shafoccur until the limitof A the 3range of speedcorresponding Ato such Vnatural period of vibration passed. LetpointxD'on line A. C denote-the 'aforesaid critical speed.' I f now, assaid speed is approachedlthe mo'ment of inertia of the Ycrank 75 shafthe changed, at pointE, for example, the critical speed is also changedand the speed of rotation of the crank shaft may pass through theaforesaid range of speed without the occurrence of the natural period ofvibra.- tion of the crankshaft; The objectionable vibrations of thecrank shaft may` be thus prevented and the 'strain on the engine supportconsiderably lessened. After the speed of v rotation of 'the crank shafthas passed v85 .through the rangeE F the moment of inertia of the Vcrankshaft is restored to its original L value and the speed may be increasedfurther Y without the natural period of vibration of the crank shaftoccurring.' more than one critical speed, such as D', the moment ofinertia of the crank shaft should be again changedat points E and F.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an internal 4combustion engine 1 connectedVthrough my preferred 95 form of electro-magnetic torque applying device2, '3 with fa propeller shaft 4. vSaid propeller shaft [may he driven bya motor 5, as is commonin submarines, after engine 1 has been unclutchedtherefrom. -For chang- 100 ing the moment of inertia of the crank shaftBof the engine 1, la flywheel 7 is adapted to be clutched to andunclutched from said shaft.

While various means may be provided for If there should be clutchingshaft. Gand Vfiywheel 7 together I lo.

prefer to provide an electro-magnetic'torque applying device, which, forthe purposes of this disclosure may be ,briey termed a clutch,comprising a series ofannular membersof nonfmagn'etic material Vhavinginsertsl 110 .of steelorv other magnetic material. In Figs.

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatlc views` '3 andfl it will be seen that ofthese 6 to rotate therewith. Two similar rings 125 and 13 are secured tosection 7 of iiywheel Y7, so that ring 8 surrounds Vring 12, ring 1 2surrounds ring 9, ring 9 surrounds ring 13, and ring 13 surrounds ring10. Each of these annular members is provided with steel or iron inserts-14 Which-'may extend in a direction parallel to the 'axis of the shaft6 and .iywheel 7 and are preferably equidistantly spaced in acircumferential direction. increase the torque of the device theperiphery of flywheel 7 which surrounds ring 8 may be. grooved toprovide teethl which correspond to the'steel inserts in any one of theannular members both in'spacing and in number. Likewise, the peripheryof section 7 ,o f flywheel 7 which is surrounded by ring may besimilarly grooved and provided l with teeth 15. While various meansmaybe provided for passing magnetic flux through the members, l preferto provide a magnetlz'- ing coil 16 mounted on a ring 17 of non-mag-A25.I -netic material secured between sections 7 and,V

.17 of the iiywheel as shown. With the arrangement shown it will bereadily seen that when coil 16 is energized, magnetic' flux will passthrough section 7 f teeth 15, the magnetic '30 `hiserts v14, teeth 15and section 7 thus tending to align theI inserts 'in the 'correspendingrings. Movement of the set of rings on member 11 when coil 16 is ener-.gized, will thus cause corresponding movement ofthe otherset togetherwith flywheel 7. As shown, iiywheel 7 may comprise two sections 7 f and7 secured togetherfand rotatably mounted. on anV axial extension 11 o fmember 11. lf desired a lining ofbearing metal 18, such as Babbitt orbronze, may be interposed between sections 7 and 11 as is customarj;r inbearings.' Preferably there should be s'uhcient friction'between fywheel7 and member. 11 to'cause the flywheel to be lesser speed of rotation,for a purpose to be mentioned later'. As it .may be desirable to varyvthis amount of friction means for adjusting the friction are preferablyprovided.-

5o One formv 'of such means -is illustrated in Fig.

3 and may be constructed substantially as- Adjacent section 7 offlywheel 7 is a' member 19 slidablyV 'connected to shaft A6 for rotationtherewith. Preferably y a suitable met-al lining 20 is interposedbetween 'adjacent flanges on .members 19 and 7-' and a similar lining 21may be placed between'extension 7 of section' 7 and extension 114rotatable withshaft andslidablethereon serves to force the end foflextension 17. o

il hee1`7-against lining'j2l and portion 11 o member 11. Toyaryvjtheaction of 'the dragged along with the shaft 6, though. at a of member11.A `-A spring 22,' mounted between members19 and 23, the latter beinglikewise spring, the end of shaft 6 may be threaded and a nut 24 mountedthereon. Obviously as nut 24 is turned in one direction or the other thetension of spring 22 is varied and the friction between ilywheel\7 andmember 11 regulated.

To supply `current to magnetizing coil 1.6 I have s iown a pair ofcollector rings 26 and .27 insulated from each other and from iiywheel 7-to which they are bolted as shown.

Conductors 48 and 49 .from coil 16 pass through holes provided inywheel7 for connection with rings 26 and27, one conductor being connectedywith ring 26 and theother with ring 27 Brushes 50 and 51 engage rings26 and 27 respectively for supplying current thereto, said brushes being4mounted on a suitable stationary support 52.

ln Fig. 5 l have shown one form of means for making and breaking acircuit through coil 16 in response to the ,speed of rotation of thecrank shaft. A roller 53' is carried by an'a'rm 54 engaged between twoiianges 55, 56 on a depending sleeve 57 of a governor 58,`the" shaft 59of which governor may be rotated in any suitable manner bythe engine 1.Itis\evident that either of two methods '-coupled.- to the shaft as suchcritical speed is passed throu h.4 If it should be desired' to unclutchthe ywheel from the crank shaft `may be employed for e'ecting thepurposes as the-critical speed is approached and to clutch the Aiywheeland shafttogether after said speed has been passed,' the arrangement ofcontacts 60 and strips of insulation 61,

as shown in Fig. '5, may be provided." Said contacts 60 are adapted tobe engaged by' 'roller 53 and are connected by conductors 62with-onep'ole ofasource of E. F. 63. To 'the .other pole of said sourceare con- .nectedcoil 16 and roller 53. It will thus be seen that, whenroller 53 is in engagement withl one of contacts 60, coil 16 will beenergized and magnetic iux will be passed through the membe'rsofl thetorque applying device to coupleiiywheel 7 to -shaft 6, so that bothflywheel and shaft rotate with the same speed. When, however, thecriticalspeed is approached, 'roller 53 engages one of the strips ofinsulation 61, whereupon the circuit through coil 16 is broken andiiywheelI 7 Aisun'clutched from shaft 6. The moment of inertia of thecrankshaft 6 is thus changed and the critical speed also changed. Thenatural period of vibration of theerank shaft thus does not occur at the(speed at which itV would have occurred had the said moment of inertianot been changed, and the speed of rotation of the crankshaft passesthrough 'the range E F of Fi 1 without the occur- `rence of said periodol vibration. As a speed corresponding to point Fis reached, roller O53comes into contact with the neXt contact segment 60, whereupon theflywheel 7 is again clutched to shaft 6 and the original critical speedrestored. However, the speed of shaft 6 has been increased sulhcientlyto have passed said critical speed. As many strips of insulation 61`should be provided as there are critical speeds. l Thus in Fig. 5twosuch strips afre shown, corresponding with critical speeds D and Do'Fig. l. A relatively Stationary guideway 64 is shown for preventinglateral 'displaccmentof arm 54 and roll- If it is desired to increasethe moment oi inertia of the shaft 6 as the critical speed isapproached, the arrangement of contacts 60 and insulation 6l shown in'Fig. 6 may be substituted tor the arrangement of contacts 60and 61 ofFig. 5. When the speed ot rotation of Vvshaft 6 corresponds topoint E inFig. l, roller 53 passes from a strip of insulation 6l,l on to `a.Contact segment 60',

thereby closinga circuit through coil 16 and clutching flywheel 7 toshaft 6. Preferably .there should be sufficient friction between the`flywheel and shaft so that when the flywheel is unclutched from theshaft it will rotate with it at almostthe same speed, thereby'enablingthe torque applying device to take 'hold and prevent any appreciabledecrease ot speed of shaft 6 when said flywheel is clutched thereto.Means for providing. suitable friction between the flywheel;

and shaft have already been described. By

q clutching said flywheel and shaft, together,

' the moment ot inertia and consequentlyvthe occurring.

critical speed oi the shaft are changed so vthat the speed of said shaftcan pass safely' through the original critical speed'without the naturalperiod of vibration of the engine Upon reaching a speed corresponding top ointF,- roller 53 passes into engagement with thenext strip ofinsulation 61', thus breaking" the circuit throughY coil l16 andiin-coupling the flywheel 7 cranlr shaft 6.

lt will thus be seen that I have provided means igor preventingobjectionable vibrations ot the engine from occurring by changing themoment of inertia of the crank shaft as the critical speed isapproached, thereby changing -the critical speed, and then.' after fromthe speed ofthe crank shaft-exceeds the original critical speed by asuflicient amount, restoring the moment of inertia of the crank shaft toits original value. Consequently at'no time during the rotation of thecrank shaft does said crank shaft vvibrate in accordance :with itsnaturalperiod of vibra.- tion. The objectionable vibrations of theengine -are thus prevented, tand. the total number of its vibrationsminimized.

Ot course, it desired, the circuit through magnetizing coil 16 could bemade and broken manually in accordance with the speed of thc crank shaftas read from a suitable indicator.

Another feature of my invention consists of an improved connectionbetween tail-shaft 4 and engine shaft 6. In Fig. 7 crank-shaft 6 isshown connected with an element 2 of an electromagnetic torque applying'device adapted to cooperatewith a complementaryA element 3 connectedWith propeller shaft 4.' y Elements 2 and 3 comprise a plurality ofannular members 29, 30, and 31 of non-magnetic material secured toelement 2 and cooperating i with similar members 32 and 33 secured toelement 3, said members being each provided with inserts 34- of magneticmaterial. The element 3 is provided with grooves 35 and 35 on its innerperipheral portions, as shown, to provide teeth corresponding withinserts 34. A magnetizingcoil 36 is provided for passing magnetic fiuxthrough said annular members.` The operation of the clutching meansbet-Ween shafts 4 and 6 is thus similar to that between shaft 6 andvflywheel 7, and shafts 4 and 6 are l clutched together whenever currentis passed through coil 36.v In .this connection, more.- over,it'sho'uldbe noted that the"electromag-A netie torque applying device describedforms practicallyY a non-slip connection between the driving and drivenmembers but at the ,same time permits slight play between said memberswith relation to their axis of rotation sine spaces are provided betweenadjacent rings of the torque applying device. Preferably l provideadditional means for permitting further play between shafts 4 and 6 forSuch a type of connection is shownlin Fig. 7,

wherein element 2 isfprovide'd with a suitable .number of apertures, oneof which is shown at 37. Projections from hub 39 keyed to shaft 6 arereceived in the aperturesabove referred to, one of said projectionsbeing in- -dicated at 38. Any suitable type of yielding connection maybe provided between each proj ection and element 2, tor example, such'as cooperating with a flange 41 on projection 38 and A having its coilswound about different centers so as to tend to restore shaft-.6to exactalignment with shaft 4 whenever shaft-,6 tilts 'shown in Fig. 7, in theform of a spring 40 in any direction out of such alignment. -Element 2is shown rotatably mounted on ila. hub

` 42 of element 3. A casing 43 encloses the elements 2 and 3 and carriesbrushes 44 and 45 which engage With annular contacts 46,47 to which maybe connected suitable conductors for conveying current to coil 36. Itshould be a radial line with respect to shafts 4 and 6, as

isindicated by dotted line A-'A in Fig.'7.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified arrangement of connections between themagnetiz'i'ng coil and the collector rings, applicable to either of theconstructions of Figs. 3 and 7. Magnetizing coil 36 is shown so Woundthat both ends of 65, 66 of the coil may lie adjacent each other Whenpassed through element 67, which element corresponds to element 3 in 7or to fly Wheel 7 of Fig.A 3. The conductors 65, 66 are then passedalong the outer face of element 3 and connected with collector rings46', 47

respectively, the latter being engaged by theY usual brushes 44 and 45.f'

If desired, means may be provided for r clutching shafts 4 and 6together in case the current through the magnetizing coil should Y fail,or .whenever it may be desiredpnot to use the `electromagnetic torqueapplying device. One form of such means I have shown in Figs. 9 and 10in which figures the, elements of the electnomagnetic torque applyingdevice are similar to those shown in Fig; 7. Parts of theelectrdmagnetic torque applying device of Fig. 9 correspondingto-.those' of Fig. 7 are designated by corresponding numerals with aprime added. 'i

Surrounding shaft 6 and adjacent member 39 is a member 63 preferablyrotatable with b shaft 6, and provided with a-seat 69 at its' peripheryfor a slidable disc 70. The latter car-- ries teeth 71, extendingthrough recesses 72 in the periphery of member 2. In the periphery ofmember \3 corresponding recesses 7 3 are provided.v If now the magnetictorque applying device' should become inoperative, as by the failure ofcurrent in coil 36, shaft 4 can be driven from engine shaft 6 if di.. c70 be moved to bring teeth 71 into recesses 7( 'A For moving y disc 7 0into and out of positionfor enabling shaft 4 to be driven from shaft 6various means may .be employed.

wayI of illustration I have shown a groove y74 inthe periphery of disc70 with which VVgroove pins 75, 75 on forked'end 76 of lever 77arejadapted tov engage in the well known manner;V Said lever 77 ispivoted at 78 so that, when handle 79 is moved in either direction discwill be moved correspondingly.A In F ig.;11 leverf7 7 shown on a1Vsmaller scale than in Fig.'

If desired suflicie-` lest' vmot-ion may be provided between teeth 71yand-the Walls of recesses 73 that, when coil 36 is energized,

element 3 and shaft 4may be driven through the electromagnetic torqueapplying device from shaft 6, Without withdrawing teeth 71 f fromrecesses 73. Thus, assume shaft 6 `to be turning in a direction to causetooth-71 to .engage Wall 73 of recess 73 to drive shaft 4. If, underthese conditions, the magnetic linserts 34 connected' with the shaft 6are energizedmember3 will bemoved-sufcienti ly with respect to member 2that Wall 73 will no longerQ be engaged by tooth 71 and shaft 4 will bedriven entirely through the 30 medium of the electromagnetic torque'-ap'- plying device, 'RegardlessLofL the direction ofrotation of shaft6, if the lost motion between teeth 71 and the walls of recesses'73serts 34" connectedwith element 3 and shaft 4 are outof alignment asshovvnv with respect f to inserts 34 connected with; element 2 and shaft`6. A'Iooth 7l thus serves to drive shaft 4. Upon energization of coil36' howover, inserts 34 and 34 are moved more into alignment as shown inFig. 13 and shaft Acmg 1n driving engagement with recess 73. Thisconstruction may also possess the ad'- of the magnetic coupling or lockby a sudden jerkfor overload. `In suchcase Aif thermechanical teeth 7 3were in they would be brought against the Walls of the slots 73 when themagnetic teeth were relatively displaced,

4 is driven through the electromagnetictorque applying device, tooth 71no longer vantage of assistingand preventing breaking.

' as shown in Fig. 12, thereby assisting in drivl scribed, some of thesemay be altered and others omitted Without. interfering with the moregeneralresults outlined, and the in-l' vention exten-is to such use.

ing said magnetic elements to said member.

3. In combination, a rotatable member provided at its rim with a portionC-sliaped in cross section and of magnetic material, a magnetizingelement carried by said portion,

isolated magnetic elements within the gapof said C-shaped portion, andmeans for securing said magnetic elements to said member.

4. In combination, a rotatable member provided with la portion/ C-shapedin cross section and of magnetic material, a magnet- 12mg elementcarrled by said portion, a member of non-magnet1c materlal secured toysaid rotatable member within the gap of said C-shaped portion, andmagnetic elements supported by said'membr o non-magnetic material.

5. In combination, a rotatable member provided with a portion C-shapedin cross section and of magnetic material, a magnetizing element carriedby said portion, a

member .of non-magnetic material secured within the gap of said portion,and a plural'- ity of magnetic inserts carried by said member ofnon-magnetic material and longitudinally and circumferentiallysurrounded thereby. y

6. In combinatiom; a rotatable member provided with a. portion C-shapedin cross section and of magnetic material, a magnetizing element carriedby said portion, isolated magnetic elements within the gap of saidC-shaped portion and connected with said member, a second rotatablemember, and other magnetic elements within said gap and connected withsaid second rotatable member. 'Y

7. In combination, a rotatable member provided with a portion C-shapedin cross section and ofmagnetic material, a' magnetizing element carriedby said portion, a plu-fA rality of concentric sets of isolated magneticof said C-shaped elements within the gap portion, means for securingpart of said sets to said member, a second rotatable member, and meansfor Securing the remainder of said sets to said second rotatable member.8. In a magnetic torque applying device, a"rotatable member having aportion` C- shaped in cross section and of magnetic material,magnetizing means carried by said portion, a plurality of concentricsets of isolated magnetic elementsI within the gap of said C-shapedportion, and means for securing said sets to said member.

9. In combination, a driving element, a driven element, a magneticclutch member connected to one element, a plurality of non-contactingspaced 'rings projecting from each member, the rings on one mem-berfitting between the rings on the other member, a plurality of magneticinserts carried by each ring, one member being rotatably supported onthe other membeig'an'd means for flexibly connecting said former memberwith the other of said elements for the purpose specified.

, 10. In combination, a driving element, a driven element, a magnetictorque transmitting device having a part connected with one of saidelements, a second part, a bearing rotatably supporting said second parton the first mentioned part, and resilient means connecting said secondpart'with the other of said elements, said device, bearing and resilientmeans being in substantially radial alignment.

11. In combination, a iirst rotatable element, a second rotatableelement having a portion C-shaped in cross section, spaced magneticmasses carried by said-second element and llocated in the gap of saidC-shaped portion, spaced magnetic teeth carried by said second elementand correspording in spacing and number with said masses, and

other spaced magnetic masses in said gap and carried by said firstrotatable element.

12. In combination, a rotatable element having a portion C-shaped incross section, a

driven member, non-mechanical clutching^ means comprising a pair of.spaced magnetic -elements interposed between said members,

one of said elements having means forming a lbearing foi-the other ofsaid elements, and a flexible connection between one of said members andsaid clutching means, said connection, said elements and said .bearingbeing in the same plane. 1

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ELMER A. SPERRY.

105 plurality of isolated magnetic masses carried by said element withinthe gap of said'

